Research at the Department of Surgery

Modak Lab

Location

P&S Building – 630 W. 168th Street, 17-501New York, NY 10032

Research

Shanta Modak, PhD is a research scientist at Columbia University Medical Center who was inducted as a fellow to the National Academy of Inventors in 2014 for her work to develop infection-resistant medical devices. In collaboration with Professors of Surgery Henry M. Spotnitz, MD, and Mark A. Hardy, MD, Dr. Modak has developed a new formulation in reducing infections associated with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) and a silver sulfadiazine cream which is highly effective in wound healing. Examples of her inventions include antibacterial central venous catheters and soft tissue patches, which are now widely used in hospitals to reduce device-associated infection. Current studies in her laboratory include development of biofilm-resistant endotracheal tubes and urinary catheters as well as compositions for skin and surface disinfection and importantly, the laboratory's main focus is on developing botanical/natural antimicrobial compositions for skin and surface disinfectation as well as in topical wound healing formulations.